The European Commission imposed penalties on Finland for permitting commercial overfishing of Baltic salmon under the guise of scientific research, sparking a fierce backlash from Helsinki, Euractiv reported.
Brussels alleges that a 2024 “research expedition” in the Baltic Sea masked industrial-scale fishing, with vessels and catch volumes mirroring previous years’ commercial operations. The move underscores mounting tensions over dwindling salmon stocks and compliance with EU sustainability rules.
A report by the Commission’s Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) found Finland’s 2024 salmon initiative “scientifically unjustifiable”, noting its fishing effort aligned suspiciously with commercial interests.
The number of vessels and the projected level of fishing effort is almost equivalent to the levels in the commercial fisheries in previous years.
As punishment, Finland’s permitted salmon by-catch quota—fish accidentally caught while targeting other species—has been slashed from 8,989 to 5,827 for 2025, offsetting last year’s illicit haul. Direct salmon fishing remains banned in critical Baltic zones due to collapsing populations.
Finland’s government rejected the ruling as “unjustified”, vowing to challenge it at the EU Court of Justice. Meanwhile, its Agriculture Ministry has circumvented the cuts by swapping quotas with other member states, ensuring its 2025 limits remain unchanged. Officials also pledged new coastal fishing regulations to address salmon survival rates during migration.
While Finland argues its “research” aimed to study migration patterns, environmentalists allege such schemes exploit regulatory loopholes, prioritising industry profits over conservation. Finland’s quota swap tactic, though legal, risks undermining the Common Fisheries Policy’s credibility, while Brussels’ punitive approach tests its authority to rein in member states.
